Abstract
Neurological diseases (NDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide and tend to mainly affect people under the age of 50. High rates of premature death and disability caused by NDs undoubtedly constrain societal development. However, effective therapeutic drugs and methods are very limited. Schisandra chinensis Fructus (SCF) is the dry ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Recent research has indicated that SCF and its active ingredients show a protective role in NDs, including cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, or depression. The key neuroprotective mechanisms of SCF and its active ingredients have been demonstrated to include antioxidation, suppression of apoptosis, anti-inflammation, regulation of neurotransmitters, and modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) related pathways. This paper summarizes studies of the role of SCF and its active ingredients in protecting against NDs, and highlights them as promising resources for future treatment. Furthermore, novel insights on the future challenges of SCF and its active ingredients are offered.
Highlights
Neurological diseases (NDs) are a major public health problem, with high prevalence, and leading to disability and mortality
More recent advances have demonstrated that Schisandra chinensis Fructus (SCF) and its active ingredients, schizandrin A (Sch A), schizandrin B (Sch B), schizandrin C (Sch C), schisantherin A (STA), schisandrin (SCH), schizandrol B, α-isocubebenol (ICO), gomisin A, gomisin N, and nigranoic acid, manifest protective effects on hypoxia-ischemia neural injury and neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD)
The results showed that their main mechanisms are antioxidation, suppression of apoptosis, anti-inflammation, regulation of neurotransmitters, and modulation of pathways related to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (Table 1)
Summary
Neurological diseases (NDs) are a major public health problem, with high prevalence, and leading to disability and mortality. Cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental disorders, such as stroke and dementia, rank among the leading causes of death and disability, often affecting the adults in working-age [1]. The current number of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases patients is 290 million, including 13 million stroke patients. The treatment of NDs, including stroke and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is critical to patients’ lifespan and quality of life. More recent advances have demonstrated that SCF and its active ingredients, schizandrin A (Sch A), schizandrin B (Sch B), schizandrin C (Sch C), schisantherin A (STA), schisandrin (SCH), schizandrol B, α-isocubebenol (ICO), gomisin A, gomisin N, and nigranoic acid, manifest protective effects on hypoxia-ischemia neural injury and neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke, AD, and Parkinson’s disease (PD). This paper summarizes the neuroprotective effects of SCF and its active ingredients, and provides a reference for the treatment of NDs
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